Threaded Weight Bar and Collar

ABSTRACT

A threaded weight bar and collar is provided. There is a weight bar with threaded ends and a handle portion, weight plates and a spring collar. The combination of a threaded bar and spring collar allows a user to both slide the spring collar in place for quick and easy placement and removal and rotate the spring collar around the threaded end to tighten the seal. Various combinations of weight bar lengths, weight plate configurations and spring collar shapes and sizes may be used according to a user&#39;s preference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to clamping devices, and more particularly, to a threaded weight bar and collar for securing weights to an exercise weight bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various weight clamping devices are known in the art and are an effective means for securing weights on a bar for use in weightlifting and other forms of exercise. Traditionally, weights are mounted on a bar by inserting the bar through a hole at the center of each weight. Once mounted, it is necessary to secure the weights to the bar to prevent the weights from falling off the bar and causing damage or injury during use.

A weight clamp device should be easy to put on and take off since weights are frequently changed during a typical weightlifting workout. A weight clamp device should also provide a tight seal between the outermost weight and the end of the bar to prevent the weights from sliding around during use. The problem with traditional weight clamp devices is they only address one of these concerns. For example, a weight clamp device may be easy to put on and take off but does not provide a tight enough seal between the weights and the end of the bar. Likewise, a weight clamp device may provide a tight seal but takes a long time to put on and take off the bar.

Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a weight clamp device that is both easy to put on and take off and provides a tight seal between the weights and the end of the bar to increase ease of use and safety while a user is doing a workout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure of the present application is a threaded weight bar and collar comprising a weight bar having threaded ends, a handle portion, various weight configurations and a spring collar clamp. The device of the present application overcomes the deficiencies that exist with traditional weight clamp devices.

The spring collar clamp can be slid onto a threaded end of the weight bar allowing a user to put on and take off the clamp easily when switching weight configurations. The threaded end of the weight bar also functions to secure the spring collar clamp in place so it cannot slide around on the weight bar. Once the spring collar clamp is secured in place close to the outermost weight on the weight bar, the user can rotate the spring collar clamp around the threads to tighten the seal on the weights providing additional security to the weights on the bar and preventing the weights from moving around during a weightlifting workout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a threaded weight bar and collar of the present application showing a weight secured to a weight bar; and

FIG. 2 illustrates the various components of FIG. 1 in a disassembled configuration.

It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. There are also representative examples of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numeral refers to the same elements in all figures.

The present invention provides a threaded weight bar and collar that allows a user to quickly and safely secure weights to a bar for weightlifting and other forms of exercise. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a threaded weight bar and collar. In one embodiment, there is a weight bar 10, having threaded ends 12 and a handle portion 14. Weight plates 20 fit on the threaded ends 12 and are secured in place on weight bar 10 with a spring collar 30. The spring collar 30 slides onto the threaded ends 12 up against the outermost weight plate 20 and then is rotated around the threaded end 12 in a clockwise direction to tighten the seal between the weight plate 20 and the end of the weight bar 10. The combinations of sliding and rotating the spring collar 30 into place allows a user to easily put on and take off the spring collar 30 while minimizing the movement of the weight plates 20 during a weightlifting workout.

The weight bar 10 may be of various lengths and sizes as necessary to facilitate different types of workouts. Likewise, the weight plates 20 may be of various sizes and thickness to facilitate different weight configurations according to the user's preference. The spring collar 30 may vary in size and shape to facilitate installation and removal from the weight bar 10. For example, a larger spring collar 30 and a longer weight bar 10 may be more appropriate to use with larger weight plates 20. Similarly, a smaller spring collar 30 and shorter weight bar 10 may be more appropriate to use with a smaller weight plate 20. It should be appreciated with the present disclosure that any variety of combinations of weight bar 10, weight plates 20 and spring collar 30 may be appropriate according to a particular user's preference.

FIG. 2 illustrates the various components of the threaded weight bar and collar in a disassembled view. It should be appreciated that the figures and various views illustrate examples of various components associated with the thread weight bar and collar but that a person skilled in the art would understand and appreciate the many variations of components available for use as appropriate.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weight bar and collar, comprising: a weight bar having a gripping portion and a weight receiving portion, said weight receiving portion having threads; and a deformable spring collar sized for twistable engagement with said threads, wherein said deformable spring collar engages with said threads when undeformed to twistably secure a weight on said weight bar and disengages from said threads when deformed to release said weight from said weight bar.
 2. The weight bar and collar of claim 1, wherein said deformable spring collar further comprises finger handles.
 3. The weight bar and collar of claim 2, wherein said finger handles are configured to press against said weight. 